The Rajasthan High Court has issued a stern directive to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE), ordering them to prevent students of classes 9 to 12 from skipping schools to attend coaching centres.

A division bench, led by Justice Dinesh Mehta and Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand, instructed both boards to conduct surprise inspections during school hours to ensure students are present in classrooms rather than coaching institutes.

The court emphasized that school attendance is mandatory, and any unjustified absence will attract disciplinary action against students, schools, and authorities. “Special Investigating Teams (SITs) must carry out sudden and random checks of schools and coaching centres.

If students are found absent from schools but present at coaching centres, strict action should be taken against all stakeholders, including the schools and the coaching centres, in accordance with the law,” the bench said.

Highlighting the academic disruption caused by shifting students from schools to coaching centres, the court warned that students may be barred from appearing in board examinations if their studies are found to be affected mid-session.

The orders came while hearing a case where CBSE had flagged serious deficiencies in three schools, resulting in penalties, including withdrawal of provisional affiliation. The schools had challenged the decision. The bench granted them four weeks to rectify the deficiencies, adding that schools could pursue legal remedies against any adverse outcome.

With this ruling, the High Court is sending a clear message: academics come first, and shortcuts via coaching centres will no longer be tolerated.